self-assured
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-assured
First recorded in 1705–15
Explanation
Someone who's self-assured is confident in themselves. It's a lot easier to speak in front of a large group when you're self-assured. If you're shy and unsure of yourself, you'll never be described as self-assured. The self-assured people in your life are the ones who speak up confidently, stand up for themselves, and are poised and positive. This adjective first appeared in the early 18th century, from self and assured, which shares the Latin root securus, "safe," with the word secure.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When I ask Brown how she manages to feel so self-assured so young, she laughs before answering.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026
A self-assured broadcaster, critical and competitive, having his bluff called, being invited to not just talk about it, but to be about it: Walk the walk, why don’t you?
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026
Some were self-assured and gung-ho; some were silent and pensive.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
But even for an artist as self-assured as Robyn, becoming a mother, especially as a woman and public figure in her 40s, is a vulnerable and frightening experience.
From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026
Earlier that day, dressing in his own dwelling, he had practiced the kind of jaunty, self-assured walk that he hoped he could make to the stage when his turn came.
From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
